los angeles Archives - Page 2 of 2

0 In los angeles

modern art in dtla

I could spend hours in a good museum. The Broad is a very very good one, and it’s free to boot! It seems like I made our reservation to visit the Broad Museum a lifetime ago, but it just finally rolled around. In the typical mayhem that is my life, I had an early flight, landing at LAX just in time for David to pick me up and for us to head downtown for a morning of art appreciation.

I don’t fancy myself some great art critic, but I’m educated, open minded and appreciative of the artistic spirit. It may not speak to me, but I’m interested in it regardless. My view can be too literal for some modern art, but that wasn’t the case at the Broad- the collection is incredibly well curated, one of the best of contemporary art I’ve come across. Even the most absurd of exhibits had accuracy.

I adore art that really impacts- that makes you think. Some of the seemingly simplest works of art pull me to introspection. The installation of FEMA propane barrels was so intricate up close, and the Katrina kid in me will carry that with her always. The graphic art was almost pointed. I love when I want to inspect a piece of art up close, when it engages me that way, and the Murakami portion of the exhibit did just that.

I’ve been super-inspired by negative space lately, in design and art, so admired this divided embrace piece for a little while. It’s far larger than the picture depicts, with the green aspects the size of doors.

We’d seen Jeff Koons’ Tulips when it was on display in Las Vegas, but I’d only seen his other works in print. They are just giant, much bigger that I anticipated, pretty much embodying all things glossy shiny prettiness. Total picture bait too- we had to be patient to get these shots while there were high school field trips in house. Teenage girls are very vocal in their admiration of my hair, for what it’s worth.

I love how fun modern art is, and how truly creative it can be. Don’t get me wrong, I can spend hours among the Impressionists, but sometimes it’s just really enjoyable. After flying, and LA rush hour traffic, I was tired and cranky when we reached the museum, and it managed to turn my mood around quickly. And David loves museums a lot less than I, but we both really had a good time at the Broad.

The Broad is beautiful inside and out, but in a really approachable way. I enjoy the art in the random, like cleanly designed administrative offices (yes, I peeked). I swore every other person on the escalator was taking a selfie, then realized why when I stepped into the tunnel. And I loved the little voyeur window into the vault, an art exhibit in itself.

It’s probably the New Orleanian in me, but I always find myself enraptured when beauty and breakdown combine in art. Both Julian Schnabel’s The Walk Home and Urs’ Fischer’s untitled melting lamppost really drew me in.

Our tickets were for just after opening, so we were early enough to secure a spot to see Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room. There is a separate ticketing kiosk inside, for 45 second slots within the exhibit, but it normally reaches capacity for the day about 1 pm. We were paged to the exhibit about two and a half hours after we ticketed. An undulating LED light show in a dark mirrored chamber, inspired by the artist’s hallucinations, it was stunningly beautiful, stimulating and exhilarating, and over way too soon.

“Art is a humanitarian act. Art should be able to effect mankind, to make the world a better place.” -Jeff Koons

loveRavayna

April 23, 2016

0 In lifestyle/ los angeles

a disneyland date

Walt Disney said it best, “Disneyland is a work of love.”

And when spring flowers are in bloom and the sun is shining bright, it’s hard not to feel the magic in the air! A few weeks ago (when I was still a brunette), we drove to Anaheim for a weekday Disneyland date, and it was a super fun time.

We’re fortunate enough to go to Disneyland several times a year, since we live only about an hour away. We’re no fans of theme park lines (like anyone is?) so we also wander, people watch, and eat. And when it comes to Disneyland food, Dole whip floats (pineapple soft serve and pineapple juice) are my absolute favorite.

I’m generally pretty flexible about which rides we hit- I’m up for whatever lines aren’t too obnoxious. But I’m a total five-year-old at heart, and I have a total weak spot for the teacups. It’s a must-ride, every time. David spins it so fast, and I love it!

And no day is complete without some shenanigans. No luck at hitchhiking in Cars Land, but some skipping and dipping made me giggle.

We had our cute friend Nicole join us, and we had such a good time with her- we always do! When she wasn’t cracking me up, she was behind the camera for the majority of this post’s images. But we were Minnie twinning, so I made sure to have David grab some shots of us, too.

We made sure to instagram a shot of our ears, to help raise funds for the Make-A-Wish foundation. Every hashtag of #shareyourears garnered a $5 donation, in honor of Disneyland’s 60th birthday. A total of 2 million dollars was raised to grant wishes for terminal kids, and it’s nice to have played even the tiniest part.

SHOP THIS LOOK: asos leather leggings, similar Minnie shirt, converse, kate spade bag (similar)

loveRavayna

April 8, 2016

0 In los angeles

bottega louie

I am such a sucker for something sweet- I swear I could eat desserts all day long. And if delicious treats are prettily displayed in a lovely location, I’m smitten. That’s how I’ve felt about Bottega Louie since the first time I stopped by.

Now we go often- sometimes I just grab goodies to go, but it’s also perfect for brunch with girlfriends or almost any occasion. It’s so gorgeous there! David and I stopped in for an afternoon pick-me up after a full day of errands downtown.

I always want to take home so many treats. Their chocolates are luscious and their pastrywork is exquisite as well as stunningly gorgeous. But I would go broke in there without serious willpower, so I have to keep it to just a few.

Macarons are one of my favorite pastries, and while nothing will ever equal Pierre Herme for me, Bottega Louie’s are delish and beautiful. I love the gold flake accent on the earl grey, and the fresh strawberry is especially yummy when they are in season (like now).

After leaving Bottega Louie, we headed to the Standard for a spontaneous happy hour with friends visiting from Ohio. I got distracted by the organ and shinyness at first, but we made it up to the rooftop eventually. And when we did, the cocktails and company were both on point.

Vintage dress (similar and under $2o!), Zara kids flats (similar), Kate Spade purse (similar), Rifle Paper Company iPhone case, Charming Charlie earrings, Kendra Scott bracelet, Forever 21 sunglasses.

loveRavayna

March 23, 2016

0 In los angeles

break bread la

When in DTLA the other day, we checked out the Break Bread LA exhibit at the Think Tank gallery.

A collaboration between artists Scott Hove and Baker’s Son, the installation is 7.5 k square feet of a twisted grownup candyland. Though inspired by Cirque du Soleil’s Zumanity, it definitely has its own quirky flavor.

It was certainly not like any cake frosting I’ve ever come across, and I’d consider myself quite the cake connoisseur.

I found the antique phone and was totally having myself an Adele moment, straight silliness. The mirrors really made it feel like you were living in a pink cake- completely surrounded. Even David couldn’t escape!

This digital installation wall was supercool- it moved and undulated, transforming from flame to water and back again.

My dress is Cynthia Steffe from Nordstrom many moons ago, but I always come back to it. My booties are Old Navy, clutch is Zara, and necklaces were souvenirs from New Mexico.

The exhibition is open at Think Tank until March 13, and there are some tickets available for the remaining special events. Just visiting the exhibit is free, so you can make a reservation on eventbrite or just stop in and check it out!

loveRavayna

March 4, 2016

0 In los angeles

fall on the farm

I’ve spent most of my life as a big city girl, but there’s something about the sunshine and scent of the baking earth on the breeze that I just adore.

So we make the drive out to Underwood Family Farms several times a year, and I get my fill of fresh air, farm produce and frolicking in the fields. It’s the perfect antidote to the congestion and craziness of the the city.

The farm stand was stocked for the season, and I quickly filled a wagon with pumpkins and decorative gourds. I’m loving all the heirloom varieties that are becoming popular- I think they’re so much prettier than the traditional ones!

The farm was all decked out for the Harvest Festival, and we were happy to enjoy the festive decor sans the crazy weekend crowds. And when I realized the cow train was running, I couldn’t hold back from acting like a kid and catching a ride out to the fields via my friend Angus.

Though we patronize the farm stand, we go especially for the”u-pick” offerings… I love getting down and dirty in the fields, and eating handpicked farm-to-table even more! Fried green tomatoes are one of my favorite foods, so I take advantage of the bushes of underripe fruit and pick way too many.

Tomatoes, squashes (and their blossoms!), peppers and more easily filled the wheelbarrow, but the carrots gave me a run for my money! I kept tearing off tops while the veggies stayed firmly in place. As I pried them out of the earth with my fingers, I was wishing we’d brought a trowel along.

I was bummed the raspberry fields were bare- they’re my favorite to pick, eat, and cook with. But the heatwave and drought shortened berry season, and the canes had already been cut back in preparation for next year.

But the beet fields were loaded, and I promptly piled up the produce. They made for quite the farm-style bouquet.

And of course, no trip to the farm is complete without visiting the animals. I hung with my fellow piggie and tried, yet again, to convince David of my need for a pet goat. (He’s not even entertaining the idea, if you were wondering.)

Harvest at the farm really makes it feel like autumn has arrived, even when it’s still eighty degrees out. And I may be prissy, but I’m happy to mess up my manicure if it means I can support local farmers and know the provenance of the food I feed my family. Frankly, produce this fresh tastes so much better than anything I can find in store. And y’all know I’m all about eating well.

J. Crew gingham shirt | American Eagle skinnies | Hunter wellies | el Coral Barcelona pearls

loveRavayna

October 27, 2015

0 In lifestyle/ los angeles

a malibu beach day

Despite a scorching SoCal summer, a full agenda and travel schedule have kept us running, with minimal time for relaxing. Though we’re into October, the weather’s not been reflecting that at all- it broke 100` this weekend. So last week, we played hooky one day and headed up to Malibu for a day at the seaside.

We loaded up bags and coolers, packing charcuterie and salads, watermelon and wine, and carefully hiked along the cliff path down to the cove. I unpacked our picnic as David mixed mimosas and managed a little music, and we had a lovely little lunch by the sea.

Though it directly disobeys posted rules, I almost always bring sturdy glass and stoneware on a beach picnic. We pack it back out and take it home to wash- so we’re never leaving broken glass behind and I feel better about not adding disposables to overflowing landfills.

Despite the gorgeous weather, the beach was just about deserted. It was so lovely to feel like we had the whole seashore to ourselves. It’s rare that you get to escape the crowds in Los Angeles, so I treasure these moments of peace among the madness.

The summer heat wave means that our section of the Pacific is the warmest it’s been in decades. For the past few years, I’ve barely gone past wading in the chilly waves, but it was warm enough for this cold water wimp to enjoy.

As a frank side note, part of me thinks it’s crazy that I’m sharing unretouched bikini photos here. As a former pageant girl who used to care an unhealthy amount about other’s opinions of my body, I spent most of my adult life horrifically insecure about my figure. But I’ve reached a point where I literally could not care less- if a lump or bump or lack thereof offends you, just keep scrolling past. In this way, I’m beyond grateful for the wisdom of age- and the cognizance that strong is far sexier than skinny, and to know that insecurity is a waste of time. I work out and eat (mostly) healthy to fuel my body and be fit enough to handle my crazy life, but #badonkadonk. ?

You know the best way to get a bikini body? Put on a bikini and smile.

So that’s exactly what I do, and on days like this gorgeous one- it makes for a beautiful time reveling in the seaside sunshine.

These are the moments…
loveRavayna

October 12, 2015

0 In los angeles

ramen and romance

Over a dozen years after we first got together, I still take dating my husband pretty seriously. What I mean is that I love claiming a mutually free chunk of time and declaring it a date! Let’s be real- I’ll buy into any excuse to get a bit fun or fancy, eat good food, and steal smooches. While I was on the road this summer, I had long-term major cravings for tsukemen (dip) ramen. The best in the city is hands down at Tsujita LA– my mouth is watering just thinking about it. Since I’ve dragged David all the way across the city for several recent dates, I wanted to share our typical Sawtelle Japantown date with you.

The crowd at Tsujita can be insane, so we try to go at off hours. If the wait is still long, I kill time by crossing the street to shop at Daiso or browsing Asian skincare and beauty products at Make Asobi. (Much, much more on my Asian skincare routine coming soon.) Fortunately, service is brisk once seated and food arrives before I get hangry.

I always, always get char siu tsukemen. Other menu items are yummy, but that is my spicy savory dream. And romance goes out the window when this ramen is in the picture- I won’t even share it with David! It’s too delicious to let away from my greedy little fingers- to have and to hold, but get your own bowl.

The same goes for dessert. I’m significantly more interested in any outing that involves sweets of some sort, and Blockheads Shavery is just around the corner. They serve snow cream there, ice cream shaved off big blocks into light fluffy frozen deliciousness.

I love treats of all kind, but especially get excited about more unusual, less-sweet flavors. At Blockheads, I dress my black sesame snow cream with red beans, rice cakes, and condensed milk, and am a happy piggie. David likes his dessert properly sweet, so he covers his coffee malt snow cream with brownies, fudge, and sliced almonds.

With full bellies and full hearts, we head off into the sunset… And by that I mean head off to sit in traffic on the way home. LA traffic is perpetually blech, but it’s more pleasant when your sweet husband is driving you home after a date. I’ll take what I can get!